FRANK'S HINT OF THE YEAR
I have found that platen cleaner and rejuvenator is the best way to go. It really works great and won't destroy the rubber. You put it on for about 45 seconds to a minute, then wipe it off, the rubber will be magically transformed. I'd tell you what brand to use and where to get it but that would require getting up and walking downstairs. I'm planning on going downstairs tomorrow, so I'll post it them then unless I forget.
Incidentally... there is no way to loosen sticky rollers permanently except this way:
The roller and axle must be carefully extracted from the key spring. The axle should be cleaned with a Dremel tool and a tiny wire wheel. If your rollers stick, the axles likely have rust and corrosion as well as gummy crap on them.
Then, you need to carefully clean out the inside of the hub where the axle passes through. Remove all grime and oil. Push the axle back into the hub and hold the ends between two fingers and see if the roller spins freely, if not clean some more and check for little burrs. Also, examine the axle under a magnifier. Sometimes, when the axle ends are peened, they spread a bit near the ends. If that is the case, you'll need some real patience to solve that problem. I don't have the patience to explain how right now.
Once each roller spins freely, replace it in its key spring and peen the ends... gently. Be careful not to bend everything out of shape. If you do this right, your rollers will spin like skateboard wheels. Never oil them again... ever.
If this is to much trouble, then just do it the wrong way and worry about it next month. You can soak them in alcohol and spin them for a week and that won't solve the problem. They may loosen for a time, but they'll gum up again. You can also send them to me and I'll do it... for a price.
Stay tuned next year for another hint.
Frank